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Marine wife handles a wave of emotions

A wave of emotions swept over her as she awaited the return of her husband, Lance Cpl. Ronald Schille, from Iraq along with more than 900 Marines and sailors with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division Wednesday.

While Rebecca Schille was elated about her husband's return, she felt anxious that the battalion was three hours late. The butterflies flew in the pit of her stomach at the thought of seeing a husband she had been married to for only a year.

But mostly, she felt relieved that she would have someone to hold her hand while she battles cancer.

"I am just waiting on him to get home before I go have surgery," she said. "It's hard. We're taking it in strides."

After being diagnosed with thyroid cancer in December, Schille had to tell her husband the bad news over the phone.

"We've tried not to focus on it since then, tried to focus on the positive things, like our new lives together as a married couple," Rebecca Schille said.

Her mother battled the same type of cancer 20 years ago and won, so they knew she had the same chance to beat it, she said.

"My wife, she's a fighter," Ronald Schille said after his return. "I knew I had a job to do and that we would make it through this. And we will."

"We were keeping the wolves at bay until the government strengthens itself and gets back on its feet," Sullivan said. "The job of every infantry battalion is to hold the line."

The battalion made a big difference, he said.

"It is hugely frustrating not being able to see a full surrender," Sullivan said. "There are a lot of bad guys definitely energized to derail democracy. The good news is the Iraqis are remaining tough.

"When you look at the sacrifices we've made and what has come of it, it's all worth it."

The battalion lost 11 Marines who were killed in action, and two who were died from non-hostile causes. About 100 received a purple heart, Sullivan said.